Shaoyao similarly pushed aside the two door gods in front of her. Just as others thought she was about to speak, her whip was already whistling through the air.
Li Shiren naturally wouldn't wait helplessly for death. The Li family had some foundation, otherwise he wouldn't have been appointed as the garrison commander of Jingzhou. Previously, he held back not because he was particularly afraid—even if this matter were brought before the Emperor, at worst he'd receive a reprimand. He wasn't the only one who had employed people privately; who hadn't taken on some side jobs?
But the other party was the Seven Constellation Bureau. Given this reputation, he had to be cautious. That's why he stubbornly denied the charges. If that Mu Yunyang had been a bit smarter and both of them had shouldered the blame together, could the Seven Constellation Bureau really dismiss both a Chief Administrator and a general? Even if they had the intention, they'd have to consider whether the forces behind the Li and Mu families would agree!
However, he never expected her to suddenly strike, actually lashing out with a whip. What was this? This was stepping on his face and spitting in his mouth!
When she swung the whip again, he immediately drew his saber to meet it. The personal guards who had followed, seeing their general take action, also unsheathed their blades. Simultaneously, the Manor Guards moved in, surrounding the group tightly.
Yu Tao and Wang Cheng tacitly separated to the sides, each blocking half, but both were also worried, after all, this was in front of the governor's mansion. If the opponent's reinforcements kept coming, then...
"Chen Zhen, go fetch Mu Yunyang.""
"Yes." Chen Zhen exchanged a glance with his comrades before leaving. There were too few people around His Highness, yet they kept encountering one incident after another on this trip, always feeling stretched thin.
When he was dragged over, Mu Yunyang had long lost his previous composure. His hair was disheveled, and he wore only his undergarments, looking utterly wretched. With him in their custody, the Manor Guards' movements noticeably hesitated.
The Sixth Prince glanced at him. If even a Chief Administrator was in such a state, what could be expected of other officials? As the saying goes, if the upper beam is crooked, the lower ones will be askew—how could the virtue and integrity of Jingzhou's officials be any better?
Fortunately, the Seven Constellation Bureau roamed throughout the nine regions all year round, so his father could learn some of the situation—though probably limited. From what he knew, the Seven Constellation Bureau didn't often focus on officials; they were more concerned with neighboring countries and plugging leaks for the vast nation.
In recent years, although there hadn't been any major catastrophes, minor disasters and troubles had never ceased. It was only after arriving at the Hua family that he learned from Sister Shaoyao that some matters were suppressed at lower levels and never had a chance to reach his father's desk.
Where exactly did the problem lie? Little Six watched the fighting crowd with confusion. Those in high positions held such great power—if they devoted even twenty percent of their energy to public affairs, it would be enough for the people. Why couldn't they do it? Greed couldn't be forbidden, which was why, since the founding of the Daqing Dynasty, the approach had been one of "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours," and historically, this aspect had never been tightly controlled. But as Sister Hua said, you can't reap benefits without doing the work.
Little Six lowered his head, his lips pressed into a thin line. Sister Hua said that even if officials were somewhat corrupt, having more capable ones would still be good—but what defined a capable official? Many who started out well gradually became crooked. He knew several such cases himself—the same smiles that once seemed so genuine later became utterly nauseating to look at.Little Six sought an answer, but the battle had already reached a fever pitch. In terms of skill, Li Shiren was slightly superior to Shaoyao, yet Shaoyao had the advantage of poison, ultimately making Li Shiren the defeated. His personal guards were all subdued, and only the Manor Guards kept increasing in number. However, because Mu Yunyang was in enemy hands, they were restrained—though their numbers grew, their combat effectiveness did not improve much.
Shaoyao’s chest heaved rapidly. "Tie him up and throw him in the prison cell."
Li Shiren struggled and shouted, "I am the dignified garrison commander of this province! You cannot humiliate me like this, nor do you have the authority to dispose of me!"
"Trying to intimidate me with your official status?" Shaoyao sneered. "Even if I were to behead you right now, the Li family behind you would have no choice but to accept it!"
"Does the Seven Constellation Bureau dare to disregard laws and imperial authority so blatantly? I refuse to accept this! I demand an audience with the Emperor!"
"Don’t worry, you’ll get your chance. Throw him in."
Mu Yunyang was much more compliant. When they went to bind him, he obediently placed his hands behind his back, allowing them to proceed—truly a man who knew when to yield.
After catching her breath, Shaoyao formally revealed her identity. "The Seven Constellation Bureau is taking over the Chief Administrator's Mansion. Within a quarter of an hour, I expect to see all stationed military commanders and officials of the Chief Administrator's Mansion assembled here."
Reputation precedes a person, just as a tree’s shadow follows its form. If the earlier individuals had instilled fear in them, this announcement now brought reassurance. Historically, the Seven Constellation Bureau had never acted against the interests of the Daqing Dynasty and enjoyed the Emperor’s deep trust. Even the most stubborn among them softened, complying with every order. In less than a quarter of an hour, everyone had gathered, not a single one missing.
During this time, Shaoyao familiarized herself with the personnel on both sides. As soon as everyone was present, she directly announced, "Song Qi, you will temporarily oversee the Chief Administrator's Mansion, pending further orders from the court."
"Yes!" Song Qi jolted in surprise, never expecting such a significant opportunity to fall into his lap. Though it was only a temporary appointment, who was to say he couldn’t turn it into a permanent one with effort?
"Zhu Yichun, you will temporarily oversee the Jingzhou garrison, pending further orders from the court."
Zhu Yichun took a deep breath. "This humble general accepts the command."
"Immediately dispatch messengers to the capital at full speed to report this matter and request the court send officials to handle it. Until they depart, no unauthorized persons are permitted to visit. Remember, no one."
"Yes." Song Qi and Zhu Yichun exchanged a knowing glance, both aware they would exert their utmost in this regard. Official positions were like carrots filling holes—if those above didn’t vacate their posts, there was no chance for advancement. This was their opportunity.
"Don’t exchange glances under my watch. It is an ironclad rule that civil and military officials must not interact. The garrison and the Chief Administrator's Mansion are meant to supervise each other, not collude for mutual benefit and comfort. Tighten up your acts! The Seven Constellation Bureau will pay close attention to this matter going forward. If any misconduct is uncovered again, severe punishment will follow."
Both men shuddered, no longer daring to look at each other. Their "yes" was uttered with utmost sincerity. The precedent was right before their eyes—they could not afford to repeat the same mistakes before even securing their footing.
Shaoyao did not naively believe these two would wholeheartedly serve the court—even Little Six wouldn’t entertain such a dream. Still, she hoped they would prove better than their predecessors. Otherwise, why would she go through all this trouble to replace them?
"As for those brought back from Zhenyang, I trust you know how to handle them."
"Yes, this humble official will surely give you a satisfactory resolution.""I don't need your response. Just do what needs to be done."
"Yes."
Thoroughly weary of these matters, Shaoyao returned to her temporary quarters after giving the general instructions. Seeing Little Six lost in thought didn't surprise her - Hua Hua had taught him so much along the way. If he still hadn't developed any sense by now, he should stay away from Hua Hua to avoid wasting her time.
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